Point S UK has appointed Mick Standbridge as Business Development Manager for the South West, adding a familiar name in the tyre trade as the network steps up regional expansion. Standbridge brings more than 40 years’ experience across wholesale, manufacturer and retail-facing roles, and will work with existing members and prospective partners to strengthen performance and competitiveness in a pressured market.
Standbridge joins Point S UK after a career that began on the workshop floor as a tyre fitter at an independent dealership. Point S UK says that grounding will be valuable as it supports family-run tyre retailers and independent service centres facing cost inflation, tougher customer expectations and the pull of national chains.
Before joining the network, Standbridge spent 12 years as a Business Development Manager at Toyo Tyres UK. Earlier, he worked for 22 years at RSR Tyres & Wheels, progressing to General Manager and overseeing a multi-branch operation of more than 10 locations. Point S UK says the mix of wholesale operational experience and manufacturer-facing account management brings a practical perspective to member support in the region.
In his new role, Standbridge will focus on improving profitability, strengthening customer retention and helping businesses access the commercial and marketing benefits that come with network membership. “Independent tyre retailers and workshops are operating in a far more challenging environment than even a few years ago, from changing customer expectations to rising operating costs,” he said. “What attracted me to Point S is its genuine commitment to helping independents succeed through practical support and strong partnerships.”
The appointment lands as Point S UK continues to reinforce its national footprint and leadership structure. The network has positioned growth as a strategic priority, including its stated ambition to become the UK’s largest independent automotive service network by 2035, a target that relies on sustained recruitment and stronger regional coverage.
Point S has also been reshaping its management team to support that trajectory. In May 2025, the business confirmed Ali Yilmaz as UK Managing Director as part of a wider leadership restructure, signalling a sharper focus on commercial execution and network development.
In practice, the South West remains a diverse operating landscape, with coastal and rural catchments, seasonal demand swings and high reliance on local reputation. For independent operators, the pressure points are familiar: wage and energy costs, tyre price sensitivity, and the need to add higher-margin service work without compromising throughput. Point S UK’s model is built around helping independents keep their identity while improving buying power, systems support and marketing consistency.
Yilmaz said the appointment reflects that emphasis on experienced, regionally focused support. “As our network continues to grow, investing in experienced people who understand the realities of the independent sector is essential,” he said. “Mick brings deep industry knowledge and trusted relationships built over decades, which will be invaluable as we strengthen our regional presence and provide even greater support to workshops and tyre retailers.”
The hire also aligns with Point S’s wider narrative around capability-building for independents. Point S International’s Next Generation Campus programme has highlighted skills, training and succession planning as ongoing issues for the aftermarket, particularly where long-established businesses need fresh management capacity and a clearer route to profitability in a changing parc.
With Standbridge now in place for the South West, Point S UK is signalling that its expansion plan is not only about adding logos to a map, but about building field-level support that can help independent members adapt, retain customers and protect margin.
Tagged with: Point S UK, Mick Standbridge, tyre industry recruitment, business development manager, independent tyre retailers, automotive service network, South West workshops, tyre wholesale, aftermarket support, workshop profitability, customer retention, regional expansion
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